Rocacorba Daily

In this morning’s edition of the Rocacorba Daily news digest: Cadel Evans confirms retirement plans – ‘It’s the right time to end my journey’; “Evans has left an indelible mark on the world of cycling”, CA president elect Speed; UCI announces new anti-doping tribunal, end to national federations judging their own athletes; WADA confirms support for new anti-doping tribunal announced by UCI; La Course to return in 2015; De Gendt inks two year deal with Lotto Belisol; New world under 23 TT champ Flakemore, Rosskopf and Senni join BMC Racing Team; Bigla Cycling retains Vera Koedooder and Lotta Lepistö for 2015 season; Drapac returns to National Road Series at the Tour of Tasmania; Pat McQuaid criticises UCI handling of Tour of Beijing cancellation; Brian Cookson’s presidency, one year on; Promo of the Saitama Criterium; Gone ridin’.

Cadel Evans confirms retirement plans: ‘It’s the right time to end my journey’

Former Tour de France and world road race championship winner Cadel Evans has confirmed reports that he is bringing his career to a close, with the Australian rider saying that he will hang up his racing wheels next February.

“I feel it is the right time to end my journey in competitive professional cycling,” said Evans at a press conference in Ponferrada, Spain.

“It has been the journey of more than a lifetime, something I could never have envisioned when first experiencing the joy of riding a bike on the dirt roads of Bamylli (Barunga) in the Northern Territory. It is amazing how far two wheels can take a person.”

The 37 year old said that he would compete in the world road race championships on Sunday plus Il Lombardia. The latter will bring his 2014 season to a close, but he will then gear up for two final events; the Santos Tour Down Under next January, and the new Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on February 1.

He will then transition into a new brand ambassador role for his current team’s title sponsor, BMC Switzerland.

“Cadel Evans has left an indelible mark on the world of cycling”, CA president elect Speed

Responding to the news of Evans’ retirement, Cycling Australia’s new president-elect Malcolm Speed has said that the rider has made a big difference to the sport as a result of his long career.

“Significantly Cadel hasn’t just left a legacy for Australian cycling. He has left an indelible mark on the world of cycling,” he said in a CA statement. “Australia has a long and proud cycling history, but no one has had the sort of impact of Cadel.

“He is also undoubtedly responsible for the improved health of many Australians, who have been inspired by his feats to take up cycling for recreation, racing or community.”

“The name of Cadel Evans is one that will forever be celebrated in Australian sport, just as Dawn Fraser, Sir Donald Bradman, Cathy Freeman and Rod Laver are,” said Speed.

“We congratulate Cadel for what he has achieved, thank him for his enormous contribution to Australian cycling and wish him all the very best for his future endeavours.”

Text adapted from a Cycling Australia press release.

UCI announces new anti-doping tribunal; end to national federations judging their own athletes

The risk of any national cycling federations or anti-doping organisations showing bias towards athletes in disciplinary processes has evaporated following an announcement by the UCI that it has cleared a significant change to the system.

“In order to further improve UCI’s anti-doping processes, the 14 member Management Committee proposed the establishment of an Anti-doping Tribunal to deal with cases involving international athletes, instead of these disciplinary proceedings being delegated to National Federations,” stated the UCI.

“The tribunal would be made up of judges specialised in anti-doping, fully independent of the UCI, with the aim to provide all top level athletes with the same consistent process and a clear, short timetable. This should ensure consistency and uniform quality in the decisions, significantly reduce the number of cases that go to CAS on appeal and lift the operational burden from the National Federations.”

WADA confirms support for new anti-doping tribunal announced by UCI

Confirming that the changes announced on Thursday by the UCI to the anti-doping process are within the rules, the World Anti Doping Agency WADA has told CyclingTips that it believes the measure will be a step forward in the fight against banned substances and methods.

“WADA welcomes the changes to anti-doping processes agreed to by the UCI Management Committee. The changes outlined by the UCI fully satisfy the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code,” a spokesman told CyclingTips.

“The establishment of an anti-doping tribunal to deal with cases involving international athletes, rather than managing these cases at the national level, will help bring further consistency to doping case decisions in the sport of cycling.”

La Course to return in 2015

VeloNews is reporting that Le Course by La Tour de France, the one-day women’s race at the end of the Tour de France, will return in 2015 for its second edition.

The race, which debuted in July this year on the final day of the Tour de France, saw Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv) outsprint Kristen Wild (Giant-Shimano) and Leah Kirchmanm (Optum-Kelly Benefits) on the Champs Elysees.

We haven’t yet been able to confirm the news, and details appear to be scarse at this point, but VeloNews reports that the race will remain as a one-day event, rather than the multi-day Tour that had been rumoured around the time of this year’s race.

De Gendt inks two year deal with Lotto Belisol

The 2012 Giro d’Italia podium finisher Thomas De Gendt is hoping to return to his best form in 2015 and plans to do so with the Lotto-Belisol team, with which he has agreed a two year contract.
The 27 year old Belgian had a quiet season with Omega Pharma-QuickStep but believes he can step things up.

“Of course I’m glad with this transfer,” he said on Thursday. “I preferred Lotto Belisol. Going by the conversations I had with the team management, they apparently had a strong belief in me that I could show myself and the team. That is also my goal, by racing in an attractive way and aim for good performances.”

When in form, De Gendt is a good climber and breakaway rider, as evidenced by his Stelvio stage win in the 2012 Giro. He has also used his strength to take stages in races such as Paris-Nice, the Tour de Suisse, the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Wallonie.

He wasn’t able to reach that level of form this season, although his Giro d’Italia campaign saw him notch up stage placings of fourth, sixth, and eighth.

Speaking about his ambitions for 2015 and 2016, he wants to get back to a strong level. “I would, for example, not turn down good GC results in a one week stage race. There my time trial capabilities could be a great help but most of all I’m looking forward to giving my all. I get the idea that sometimes there is work to be done for the team leader, but it’s clear that this team offers chances to its riders and then it’s up to the riders to take those chances.”

New world under 23 TT champ Flakemore, Rosskopf and Senni join BMC Racing Team

Australia’s Campbell Flakemore, who pipped Ryan Mullen (Ireland) to win Monday’s Under 23 time trial at cycling’s world road race championships, has inked a deal to step up to WorldTour level.

The 22 year old rider is one of three new signings announced by the BMC Racing Team on Thursday, with Tour of Utah star Joey Rosskopf (USA) and Manuel Senni (Italy) also coming on board.

Hincapie Development Team rider Rosskopf made his ability clear to team leader Cadel Evans in Utah when he finished a very impressive second on the Snowbird stage. He and Evans pushed clear towards the end to dispute the stage win together, with the Australian veteran using his experience to outfox the younger rider.

Flakemore’s performance this week saw him become the fourth Australian in six years to win the world under 23 time trial title. He earlier won the prologue of the Tour de l’Avenir and last season took TT victories in the Olympic Tour and the Under 23 Thüringen-Rundfahrt.

According to BMC Racing Team president Jim Ochowicz, the rider’s ability against the clock was an important factor in his signing.

“He adds significant value to our team in his specialty, which are time trials.”

The Avanti Racing Team rider will join compatriot Rohan Dennis on the team and will seek to gain from his time with him plus the established leaders. “I think I can learn a lot from those guys,” he said, referring to riders such as Tejay van Garderen, Greg Van Avermaet and former world champion Philippe Gilbert.

Following on from announcements that Annemiek van Vleuten, Shelley Olds, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and Iris Slappendel are joining for 2015, the Bigla Cycling team has confirmed that two of its current riders are remaining on board.

Vera Koedooder and Lotta Lepistö have extended their contracts and will be part of what is a push for bigger results next season.
“This year I made another step forward in the time trial but I want to keep improving this and my level in general,” said Koedooder. “Our new team manager Thomas Campana, was impressed with my results and he’s also very enthusiastic about my performances and racing style in the last years.

“He is convinced that we can improve some things and he wants to help me with the best support and equipment to reach my personal goals.”

The 30 year old added that she hopes to shine in team time trials and to contend for a medal in that discipline at next year’s Richmond world road race championships. She also wants to perform well in the finale of Classics and stage races.

As for the 25 year old Lepistö, she expresses satisfaction in staying on board.

“I am really pleased about the riders who are coming to the team next year and I am looking forward to working with them next season,” she said. “I think I will learn a lot from the team. It’s going to be, for sure, one step further for me to be a better cyclist in this team.

“My job is going to do lead-outs but also in a good situation I can also do sprints. I‘m the kind of rider who never gives up, I will destroy my legs and hope it’s going to be a good result for the team. I am excited about our roster for next year.”

Drapac returns to National Road Series at the Tour of Tasmania

After racing in Europe, Asia and the US, Australia’s only Professional Continental Team, Drapac Pro Cycling, will return to Australia for the Tour of Tasmania, part of the Subaru National Road Series.

Competing in just their second Subaru NRS event of 2014, the Drapac outfit will feature four Tasmanians: Wesley Sulzberger and brother Bernard, William Clarke, and Hobart’s Jai Crawford.

“Everyone is motivated to do well [in Tasmania]”, said Launceston’s Bernard Sulzberger. “It’s pretty important for us and it’s one of the harder NRS races. The team did the recon of the courses last week and it’s a pretty challenging Tour.”

Alongside the Apple Isle locals will be former Australian road race national champion Darren Lapthorne, Jonathan Cantwell, 2012 Tour champion Lachlan Norris and reigning under 23 time trial national champion Jordan Kerby.

Beginning on September 30, the Tour of Tasmania will feature six stages across six days, including an individual time trial to the summit of Mt. Wellington.

The honour roll includes Richie Porte and Cadel Evans while defending champion Jack Haig is currently in Spain representing Australia at the UCI Road World Championships.

Text adapted from a Cycling Australia press release.

Pat McQuaid criticises UCI handling of Tour of Beijing cancellation

Former president of the UCI, Pat McQuaid, has been critical of the governing body’s handling of the Tour of Beijing’s demise, telling Cyclingnews’ Dan Benson that “This has been brought about by incompetence at the UCI”.

“From the contacts I have in Beijing, the city wanted to re-new the contract and keep the race going but the UCI mishandled it”, McQuaid said. “They tried to bring in sports marketing agencies to come in and run the race for them and by the time that didn’t work it was August and it was too late. At that stage the deputy mayor refused to meet the UCI President.

“I know that there are a lot of fans and commentators who will say that the sport doesn’t need the Tour of Beijing but facts are that for the sponsors and the bike manufactures, who are looking to Asia to increase their business, the Tour of Beijing was very important. Now the UCI isn’t in China and that’s a real pity.”

Brian Cookson’s presidency, one year on

It’s now been a year since Brian Cookson stepped into the role of UCI president, after ousting Pat McQuaid during last year’s Congress. And now both Cyclingnews and The Inner Ring have taken a look back at McQuaid’s first year in office, considering whether the Briton has followed through on the promises he made when campaigning for the role.

Here’s an excerpt from the Cyclingnews piece:

“

Commitment: Work with organisers, teams and broadcasters to create new televised [women’s] events.

Delivery: From La Course by Le Tour de France through to the Friends Life Women’s Tour women’s cycling did receive some new events, although these were offset by the loss of older events from the calendar. How much credit the UCI can claim for the creation of these events is debatable, particularly in regard to La Course, which was the product of the campaign group Le Tour Entier (of which Cookson was initially somewhat critical). While both La Course and the Friends Life race were covered by broadcast media, even in the case of La Course this was generally done as a highlights package, many broadcasters opting not to broadcast the race live.

And here’s how The Inner Ring sums Cookson’s tenure up so far:

“

If the UCI Presidency were a bike race then Cookson’s out on the course and has reached the first intermediate checkpoint. There’s a long way to go before any finish line or judgement. So far so good? To stretch the race metaphor Cookson’s less accident-prone and made fewer handling errors than his predecessor but he’s not immune to a wobble. Tactically the UCI President seems prone to reacting to moves rather than controlling events.

Promo of the Saitama Criterium

The second edition of the Saitama Criterium will be held on October 25 this year. Here’s a promo for the race which was last year won by Tour de France winner Chris Froome and which will this year see the riders race through the Saitama Super Arena.

Gone ridin’

You might notice things are a little quiet on the site today and that’s because the Melbourne-based members of the CyclingTips team are currently out on the inaugural #FridaySickie ride out near Warburton. Don’t despair though — Shane Stokes has put up some great news pieces overnight for you to check out and there’s always the Roadtripping Tirol piece for you to while away some time with if you’re looking for some late-week escapism.

Stay posted over the weekend for reports from the road races at the Road World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, and we’ll be back on Monday with a report and photos from today’s ride, in addition to our regular programming.

Have a great weekend!

The Rocacorba Recap

And finally this morning, here are a few things you might have missed at CyclingTips: